Is This Finally the Year for the Maple Leafs?

I've been sitting on this for over a month, but the NFL season's insanity have caused me to put this on hold. But let me set the scene here. We are almost in February, we are two weeks away from the Four Nations break, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are in first place in the Atlantic Division. The Leafs have been leading the division for a good bit, but now, it's getting serious.

The last time the Maple Leafs won a division title was in the shortened 2020-21 season, which saw the Leafs finish in first place in the makeshift all-Canadian North Division. However, if you are one of those fans who just has to dismiss and not acknowledge the two COVID-affected seasons (shame on you if you are), you have to go all the way back to the 1999-2000 season for the Leafs' last division title in a full season. Here's how long ago that was: that was the Atlanta Thrashers' very first season. It was the Nashville Predators' second season. The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild were one year away from existing. The Dallas Stars were the defending champions, and as for the Leafs, the division they won was the Northeast Division with some guy named Mats Sundin.

You know, it's hard to believe that Auston Matthews is now in his ninth year with the Leafs, who tanked to draft the dynamo #1 in 2016. Tanking for him was definitely the plan, but the expectation was that it would be about a year or two before they would be a playoff contender. Instead, it happened that year: 2016-17. So that year began a long streak of postseasons for the Leafs, but it would see a string of early exits, mostly against Boston. We know that story already. It was two seasons ago that the series win drought finally ended, but they have yet to build on that as of this point.

Speaking of Matthews, the notable surprise about this amazing season for the Leafs is that it's been mostly done without the superstar. Out of the 50 games the team has played, Matthews has only been in 35 of them, but the Leafs are 10-5 without Auston. Even with the small amount of games, Matthews has reached the 20 goal mark this year (his first as captain of the Leafs), tying him with former captain John Tavares. Only William Nylander has more goals this year with 28.

But Nylander is not the overall points leader.

I've mentioned three members of that expensive core, but I have to talk about the one who is leading the team in points: Mitch Marner. Marner is running away with the points lead with 68, with 53 of those points being helpers. Similar to Mikko Rantanen, Marner has been a topic of concern, mainly regarding whether the Leafs will give him a big payday or trade him, like the Avs traded Rantanen days prior. I'll say this: the only way I would have been really elated with trading Mikko: is if we dealt him for Marner. They're basically the same player; the only difference is that Mikko has a Cup.

The Leafs have won 30 of their 50 games, and again, they are leading the Atlantic. They are seventh overall in the league, but third among Canadian teams (the Jets and Oilers have better records). I am very hopeful that the Leafs finish first in the division. I'd take second, because it's home ice for Round 1. I can actually see a long run from the Leafs, I'm still optimistic about the Leafs' playoff chances. They have 32 games left in the regular season. They need to win 20 of them to get to 50 wins this year. This can be done. Here's hoping that we see a lot of the Leafs this season.